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Wednesday, 1 February 2012

damned city: lagelido

Lagelido's hills are reached from Chantákia's south road or
Scissaxa's east road from Hag Gate. Both enter the Mezzaluna Pass
winding west and north. Beyond these is chill Lake Abbagiaco, cradled
between three hills that make up the rest of Lagelido. Foriris is the
north hill of Mezzaluna Pass. Vignicolle, a poor suburb of hard-faced
toilers and grafters at small trades on it's north face. To the south,
Domile, an estate of walled villas. Each is home to an extended family
group of professional soldiers (formiles) and their chattel slaves. Formiles
are elite troops, disciplined and fierce. Clad in insectile
breastplate and helm, bearing spear, shield, falchion and crossbow they
drill constantly. Viquilonis, a tower fortified by formiles watches over Foriris. Bristling with scorpios and topped with a mangonel any attack from Mezzaluna Pass must take it.

Dusty winds scour Mezzaluna Pass from the south. The heights of
Montaspis, the southern hill of Mezzaluna Pass is the source of this
dust. On it's lower slopes, green allotments and narrow streets. The
citizens are freed slaves-born, valued by the formiles for
their farming, aided by qanat tunnels. The upper slopes are barren,
tombs chequering stony inclines. At the peak is Angueviden, a stout
keep held by sibilant veiled oracles in concealing habits. They keep
asps about their person as pets. Their knowledge is sought by the
wealthy and powerful as well as formiles going into battle. The farmers
on the lower slopes fear them. At equinoxes, a dozen handsome male
slaves are delivered to Angueviden never to be seen again. The southern
slope forms the north coast of Lake Abbagiaco. Worn fragments of
statues are found on the coast and treacherous rocks make boating
difficult around here.

Across the lake is Monturrem. It's shoreline runs south and east,
packed with quays, shacks and tenements to the Foroscuro Plaza. Here
four towers compass an ancient marketplace. Wares have an unsavoury
edge - barbed daggers, love potions and zombies bound to lead amulets.
Each tower has it's own legends. The north tower is home to the Matres
Notisque, bejewelled coven of vile sorceresses. Necromancers, dream
stalkers and illusionists, they enslave their victims. The east tower
is home to Lord Mephis, Praetector of Lagelido, saturnine aristocrat,
ex-formile and intriguer. The southern tower is sealed by
magic and lead mortar, it's wizard owner believed now deceased. Daring
thieves attempt entry, usually dying horrific deaths. The western tower
is a municipal building with access to qanat tunnels under Lake
Abbagacio. Monturrem's south face mines for magnetite and magnesia,
lodestone deposits trick compasses and fool certain animals. Monturrem
miners are hardy yet obedient.

Lake Abbagiaco is placid by day, perilous by night. Fishing boats
bring trout and whitefish to Monturrem's muddy south shore in the day
only. After dark it's chill water is haunted by spectres. The unquiet
spirits of the drowned and murdered whose bodies are hidden here hunt
the living. It feeds the ancient qanat network that irrigates Montaspis
and Monturrem. This was built before Lagelido formed. Ancient runes
suggest certain tombs in Montaspis may have been around longer than any
historian suspects.

The western hill, Hircornuta is untamed land, named for it's spiralling rocks, reminiscent of goat horns. Formiles
hunt satyr bands amid ragged rocks. Lagelidans think satyrs drunken
maniacs, rapists and vandals while satyrs view Lagelidans as tyrannical,
violent slave-mongers. Mephis, the Praetector grants license to hunt
here. Yet amid Hircornuta's rocks, a crevasse forms a waterfall fed by
Lake Abbagiaco runs through the hill. Behind this torrent is an
unexpected passage. The waterfall hides a stair best called perilous
which descends into the chasms of Malicoram, in the realm of Manescor.